Teen saves friend after both fall through lake ice in Denville

DENVILLE — A Denville teenager saved his friend after the pair fell through the ice on Indian Lake Wednesday while ice skating, police said.

Denville police Brendan Kuty/NJ.com

At 10:51 p.m., two 17-year-old males were ice skating on the lake about 70 to 85 yards from West Shore Road when one of the youths — a Rockaway teenager — fell through the ice into about five to six feet of frigid water, Capt. Paul Nigro said.

The Denville teenager then attempted to pull his friend out when he, too, partially fell through the ice, Nigro said.

Despite the conditions, the Denville teenager was able to pull his friend out of the water and onto the shore, he said.

Both teenagers were already out of the water — and being assisted by residents in a nearby home — by the time officers arrived on the scene, Nigro said. Residents first alerted police when they heard screaming coming from the lake, he said.

Neither juvenile lives on the lake, but they have friends who live in the area, Nigro said.

Both teenagers were transported to St. Clare's Hospital by the Denville Volunteer Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, he said.